How to Choose the Best VoIP Provider for Your International Calling Needs
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This article by Debbie Jacobsen gives an excellent overview of the steps you should be thinking of taking to find a suitable provider for your international calling needs, through VoiP.
Broadband phone service is so popular because its cheap - this is why millions of people are disconnecting their traditional land-line service in favor of VoIP (this is the technical term for Internet phone service).
Once you decide to switch to Internet phone service, youll need to decide on the best VoIP provider for your domestic and international calling needs. There are three main things to consider when choosing a VoIP provider for local and international calling:
1 - The reputation of the VoIP company
2 - Does the VoIP provider have the right plan for your needs?
3 - International long distance rate to your particular destination/s
Finding the Best VoIP Providers
The first step in choosing a broadband phone service provider is narrowing down the field of choices to only the best VoIP companies. There are several VoIP providers to choose from, including your local cable company.
Telephone service is very important, and its extremely important that the VoIP provider you choose provides a high level of reliability and excellent call quality. You also want to be sure that the VoIP company you choose offers excellent and fast technical support. When you switch from dependable (but expensive) land line phone service to Internet phone service, the last thing you want is to have problems making or receiving calls - so its important to choose only a highly-rated broadband phone company!
Cable Company VoIP (aka ‘Digital Phone Service’)
Your local cable company probably offers Internet phone service too, and they should also be considered when choosing the best VoIP provider for your particular needs. Although digital phone service (this is what the cable companies call VoIP - its still Internet phone service) is known to be very reliable, the disadvantage is that it usually costs twice as much! Cable companies usually purchase VoIP service from a true VoIP provider and resell it to you. Because they have to make a profit, they have to charge you more. You can get the same high-quality digital phone service directly from a VoIP company for about 50% less than the cable company charges!
Deciding What Type of VoIP Plan You Need Do you typically make a lot of phone calls? Do you want to be able to keep in touch with friends and loved ones who live far away? Do you want the luxury of being able to talk long distance for hours at a time for free? How many minutes a month are spent making international calls? When calling internationally, which countries do you call?
These are questions you should ask yourself before comparing VoIP providers, as your answers define what you really need out of VoIP service.
If you want to make all the local and long distance calls you want within the US, Canada and Puerto Rico, consider getting an unlimited plan. Although this wont give you free international calls, international long distance rates are really cheap with Internet phone service.
For the absolute best value with an unlimited calling plan, choose an annual plan. With this type of plan, you pay for a whole year of service up front (usually around $200) and get a great price break!
If you want to make free unlimited international calls, consider getting an unlimited international calling plan. Although a bit more expensive than a domestic unlimited calling plan, this will allow you to talk to overseas family and colleagues without incurring any international long distance charges.
If you dont make many calls, your best bet may be to get a limited monthly VoIP plan and then’pay as you go’ for international long distance calls. This will be about half the cost of an unlimited plan, and youll get a set number of monthly minutes.
Compare International Long Distance Rates
International long distance calling rates are so low with VoIP that youll be pleasantly surprised at how much you can talk for so little money! Rates vary among VoIP companies though, so be sure to compare each providers international rate for the countries you call before deciding on the best VoIP provider for your needs.
For more information on Internet phone service, including reviews and recommendations on the best VoIP providers for your domestic and international calling needs, visit my website - The Best VoIP Providers for The Money.
Debbie is an information technology professional and avid VoIP user. She maintains the following websites related to Internet phone service:
http://www.long-distance-savings.com
http://djvoip.blogspot.com
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